Martin luther smith



itlnitrfl $111125 strut dtilflinr Letters Patent No: 96,495, dated November 2, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN LADDBRS.

Elm- Qcheglula referred to in Lhasa Letters Patent; andmaldng part a the lame.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN LUTHER SMITH, of Battle Creek city, county of Gall-mun, and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Imprm ements in Ladders, that I style the Extension Step and Fruit-Ladder; and I do hereby declare thejbllowing to be an exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the lettersof reference marked thereon, making a part of this specitiraiiml, in which- Figure 1 represents alside elevation of the ladder,

v Figure 2, a front view, showing the steps of the same.

Figure 3, a side view of the ladder, when extended, showing the steps at .the top-part, the brace -at the cent-re, and the extension slides at'thelower end.

Figure 4 shows the. lower 'end of the side of the ladder, and the construct-ion of the guides in which the extension-piece slides up and down, to regulate the length of theone side or ends of the ladder, to

adjust it to alerel.

Between the legs D, at the right and left side of. the'platform O, are two forked legs G, that rest upon the centre or top round B, and are adjustable, to as to rest upon the next round H, on either side of the ladder, so .that the platform 0 may be moved on either side of the round B.

The one side of the platform has rounds to step upon, but the opposite side has steps J, to conform. with the {flat steps K of the ladder, so as to ease'the feet, and enable a fruit-picker to use the ladder with more comfort and safety.

L is a rope or cord, attached to a step at'one--s ide,-

and has a hook on the extremity of the rope, for the purpose of allowing the rope to be passed under any one of the steps J, thence across under a round on the opposite side, and then hooked on to oneol' the upper rounds, so as to brace the ladder atany angle required. v

When the ladder-is extended, the ends of the forked legs G are fastened to the centre round by two pins M M, by which means the ladder is securely held in its extended position;

N N are two sliding strips, operating in guides P P,

on the outer sides of the frame A, for the purposeot' the ladder is made to conform with the inclination of the ground;

R is an upright post at top.,to give support to theworkman.

It has a hook or bracket, S, at the top, for the purpose of suspending a paint-pot or fruit-basket, for the greater-.convenience of the workman.

What} claim as my invention, and desire, to secure by Letters Patent, is-- The construction of the platform 0, with its forked legs G, pins M, post R, and hook S, when arranged as herein-described and for the purposes set forth.

MARTIN LUTHER. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J FRANKLIN REIG-ART, EDM. F. BROWN. 

